Posts Tagged ‘Chai Sip Yee’

This tiger zoo “could be one of the worst examples of a successful commercial enterprise riding on the back of exploiting, breeding and trading in endangered animals,” according to a story in today’s The Star by reporters Hilary Chiew and Joshua Foong.

The zoo, which is not identified in the story, is Saleng Zoo of Johor, Malaysia, owned by the company T.C. Arapaima & Tropical Fish founded by Chai Sip Yee. Malaysia’s Wildlife Department, Perhilitan, has raided Johor Zoo in the past. As reported here, the zoo has been subject to 7 wildlife investigations, including a shocking one in which 19 tiger cubs were found in a freezer. In another, the zoo was implicated in the A’Famosa Resort’s orangutan smuggling case.

Like so much, this story also has a link to Anson Wong. In August 2004 Perhilitan authorized TC Arapaima to trade 2 tiger cubs for 2 of Anson’s Aldabra tortoises. In the following news story’s chart on tiger possession, Anson’s operation appears as Desa Flora Dan Fauna.

Popular zoo has tame front but may hide ‘wild’ activities
By HILARY CHIEW and JOSHUA FOONG

IT brands itself as a zoo and brags about the conservation works it does. It also proudly talks of its educational role in highlighting the plight of endangered species. But behind its animal-loving front, this popular private establishment in the southern part of Peninsula Malaysia could be one of the worst examples of a successful commercial enterprise riding on the back of exploiting, breeding and trading in endangered animals.

This zoo, like several others, has earned a name for itself by announcing the birth of new tiger cubs to coincide with major events like the Lunar New Year, or even to commemorate the death of celebrities like Michael Jackson.